The world's best female grass horses compete in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf 1 1/4 mile race for a $2 million purse.

Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf

The 2025 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf will be held at Del Mar on Saturday, November 1. Bet & watch the race with OffTrackBetting.com (OTB) - US Legal Online Wagering.

She Feels Pretty

Cherie DeVaux once described She Feels Pretty as an ugly duckling but there is no doubt this now 4-year-filly turned into a beautiful swan. "You go your whole career hoping to have one like her. I feel so lucky to have her. She's very special. She's the consummate professional," the multiple graded stakes winning trainer said.

In only her second start as a 2-year-old She Feels Pretty stepped up into Grade1 company in the Natalma at Woodbine and dominated the 1-mile turf test by 4 ½ lengths to secure a spot in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) through the "Win and You're In" Challenge Series. At the same time, she gave DeVaux her first Grade 1 and signaled big things were in the future.

She Feels Pretty finished third, beaten a half-length as the favorite, in the 2023 Breeders' Cup but came back six months later to begin her sophomore campaign with a 5 ¾-length score in the Old Hilltop at Pimlico May 17. After being graded stakes placed in two successive efforts, DeVaux and regular rider John Velazquez decided to run her in blinkers. She then went out and produced a 6-length win in Keeneland's Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) at 1 1/8 miles in October, then next out ended 2024 with another decisive win in the Dec. 26 American Oaks (G1).

Picking up where she left off, in May 2025 she began her 4-year-old year by setting the Churchill Downs course record of 1:45.51 in the Modesty (G3) and then in June notched her fourth career Grade 1 in the 1 3/16-mile New York at Saratoga while taking on elders for the first time to give DeVaux her first graded stakes victory at The Spa. Then came the Diana (G1) at Saratoga on July 12 and though she was beaten by a head to Excellent Truth (IRE) as the heavy favorite, her effort was valiant, and this sensational filly lost nothing in defeat.

Five weeks after the Diana, She Feels Pretty returned to Woodbine and notched her fifth Grade 1 victory in scoring by a head as the 2-5 favorite in the E.P. Taylor Stakes going a mile and a quarter.

Lael Stables' She Feels Pretty is by 2014 Breeders' Cup Mile winner Karakontie (JPN) out of the More Than Ready mare Summer Sweet. DeVaux won the 2024 Mile with More Than Looks for her first Breeders' Cup victory.

Bellezza (IRE)

Moyglare Stud Farm's Irish homebred Bellezza found her best form on her preferred firm footing at Saratoga to bloom in the Flower Bowl (G2) on Aug. 30 at 1 3/8 miles. With the 4-year-old filly's late rally from far back in the pack to prevail by 2 ½ lengths she earned her place in the starting gate for the Maker's Mark Filly & Mare Turf (G1) through the Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" Challenge Series.

The daughter of Siyouni (FR) and Terrific (IRE) by Galileo (IRE) began her career in Ireland and ran seven times on courses there as a juvenile and a sophomore, capping her 2024 season with a win in the Diamond Stakes (Listed) at Dundalk in July 2024. Believing that she would be better in the United States, this year her owner sent her to the stable of Hall of Fame finalist Christophe Clement, who trained her to a 10-1 upset win in her first American start in the Sheepshead Bay (G3) on May 2 on the firm turf at Belmont at the Big A.

Bellezza remained in the Clement barn after Christophe died on May 25 and his son, Miguel, took over as head trainer. In all four of her American starts Bellezza has finished in the money each time. Between her victories in the Sheepshead Bay and the Flower Bowl she was graded stakes placed both times, finishing third in the New York (G1) on June 6 and second in the Glens Falls (G2). But both of those outings were on yielding turf, a surface decidedly not to her liking.

Jaime Rodriguez, who is based at the Mid-Atlantic tracks, was in the irons for Bellezza's victories in the Sheepshead Bay and the Flower Bowl and the wins were the first and second graded stakes scores in the 34-year-old rider's career.

Mission of Joy

It went according to plan perfectly when Mission of Joy was transferred from the East Coast-based stable of trainer Graham Motion to the barn of Phil D'Amato on the West Coast in the summer. The 5-year-old mare, who had been defeated in her previous 13 stakes appearances since June 2023, stretched out in the 1 ¼-mile Rodeo Drive (G2) at Santa Anita on Oct. 4 and was the surprise 11-1 winner. With her first Grade 2 victory and while being ridden for the first time by Umberto Rispoli, the RyZan Sun Racing and Madaket Stables colorbearer earned a guaranteed spot in the starting gate for the Maker's Mark Filly & Mare Turf (G1) through the "Win and You're In" Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

"I think she's really better on firm turf. The owners were looking for that when they sent her out here. It worked out," D'Amato said. In her initial foray for her new conditioner, Mission of Joy finished sixth in the 1 1/16-mile Yellow Ribbon (G2) on Aug. 9 at Del Mar and next time out she was third in the John C. Mabee (G2) at 1 1/8 miles on the same course Sept. 6. In her 18 prior starts for Motion dating to 2022 she recorded two graded stakes wins in the 2023 Florida Oaks (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs and in the Regret (G3) at Churchill Downs that same year.

Bred in Ontario, Canada by the iconic Sam-Son Farms, Mission of Joy is a daughter of the 2004 Eclipse Award-winning Grass Horse Kitten's Joy and is out of the Smart Strike mare Smart Mission. The Filly & Mare Turf will be her first attempt at the 1 3/8-mile distance, and it will be her final race for these connections as she is set to be auctioned afterward.

La Kika (PER)

La Kika (PER) proved once again why she is The Pride of Peru. After two off-the-board finishes to start her 2025 campaign, the reigning Peruvian Horse of the Year rebounded with her trademark grit and heart to capture the Gran Premio Pamplona (G1) at Hippodromo Monterrico on June 22. The win was her third at the Group 1 and it proved to be her most significant as the race is a "Win and You're In" for the Maker's Mark Filly and Mare Turf (G1).

Still, the 4-year-old filly had to fight for her spot in the Breeders' Cup starting gate. After launching her powerful rally from the back of the field of 14 in the 1 1/4-mile test, she went widest of all in the stretch before engaging with Mathilde (PER) at the sixteenth pole. The two battled nose-to-nose from there and then La Kika dug down deep and found one more push in the final stride to finish a half-length in front in the final time of 2:03.86.

Aided by a brilliant ride from Diego Lozano, the win was the sixth in 11 starts for the 2024 Peruvian Filly Triple Crown winner, Champion 3-Year-Old Filly, and Champion 3-Year-Old Turf Filly. Last year she notched two Group 1 wins on two surfaces in the Sept. 15 Classico Polla de Potrancas at 1 mile on dirt and the Dec. 15 Gran Premio Nacional Agusto B. Leguia at 1 ¾ miles on turf.

She made her first North American start Sept. 28 at Santa Anita in the 1 1/8-mile Zenyatta Stakes (G2) on the dirt. She was competitive for the first half-mile but dropped back on the far turn and was eased.

Stud Amistad's La Kika is trained by Luis Quimper and is by Badge of Silver out of the Street Hero mare Azarenka, the 2024 Peruvian Broodmare of the Year. She was bred by Haras Los Azahares. Her owner, breeder, trainer, and jockey have not competed in the Breeders' Cup, although two horses have represented Peru in the past.

Be Your Best (IRE)

Several times during her juvenile and sophomore seasons owner/breeder Mike Ryan entered Be Your Best (IRE) in auctions but then withdrew her and those proved to be the best decisions. He made another move by transferring her to the barn of Saffie Joseph Jr. In the late summer of 2024 and under the trainer's tutelage she has become a top-level winner.

In her second start for Joseph Jr., her 16th career outing overall, in November 2024 she broke through. At age 4 Be Your Best got her first graded stakes victory in the Long Island (G3) at Aqueduct, then she followed that up with victory in the Suwanee River (G3) at Gulfstream Park on Dec. 21. One month later and now a 5-year-old mare, she started off the new year with a bang by coming right back for her third straight graded stakes score when proving the best of 11 horses in the 2025 Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf Invitational (G2) on the Gulfstream green.

Although she disappointed with an eighth-place run in Keeneland's Jenny Wiley (G1) on ground with too much cut in it for her liking, her connections remained undaunted. They sent her to Santa Anita and she went gate-to-wire on May 26 for a sparkling 2 ¾-length score in the Gamely (G1) at 1 1/8 miles.

After a break the daughter of Muhaarar (GB) and Kamakura by Medaglia D'Oro ran third in two Grade 2 affairs, the Beverly D. at Colonial Downs on Aug. 9 and the Flower Bowl at Saratoga on Aug. 30.

The 2025 Maker's Mark Filly & Mare Turf (G1) will mark the second Breeders' Cup appearance for Be Your Best. After winning her first two starts in 2022, including the P.G. Johnson (Listed) at Saratoga, she finished her season with a ninth-place run in the Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) at Keeneland.

Gimme A Nother (SAF)

Heeding the trusty advice to "Go West", trainer Graham Motion sent Gimme A Nother (SAF) cross country for the Sept. 6 John C. Mabee Stakes (G2) at Del Mar and the 5-year-old mare rewarded his confidence with her first North American victory in five efforts since she joined his Maryland-based Herringswell Stable last December.

The daughter of Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) and the Tiger Ridge mare Nother Russia (SAF) raced seven times for noted South African trainer Mike de Kock at Turffontein in her native land in 2023-2024 and seven times she was the winner. Five of her victories came in graded stakes, and she went undefeated in G1 contests, taking the March 2024 South Africa Fillies Classic (G1) and the Empress Club (G1) in April 2024 before earning honors as South Africa's champion 3-year-old Filly of 2023-24.

Owner Newstead Stables then decided to send her stateside to Motion, who has enjoyed success with several outstanding South African-breds to join his stable in the past year, and since arriving she took a little time to acclimate after spending two months in required quarantine. Despite not having raced in 11 months, Gimme A Nother signaled big things were in her future when she made her 2025 and American debut with a runner-up finish in the Hillsborough (G2) at Tampa Bay Downs in March. Twice again she was the bridesmaid in graded stakes, including the Modesty (G3) in May on the Kentucky Derby undercard at Churchill Downs and the Canadian (G2) at Woodbine on July 20 when she lost by a head.

Four horses have previously represented South Africa in the Breeders' Cup and Gimme A Nother has the chance to be the first to win. In 2024 the Motion-trained Beach Bomb (SAF) finished eighth in the Maker's Mark Filly & Mare Turf (G1).

Diamond Rain (GB)

Diamond Rain [GB] is a glittering jewel in the well-stocked treasure chest of owner/breeder Godolphin. While racing outside of her native Britain and at the highest level for the first time in the 1 ¼-mile E.P. Taylor (G1) at Woodbine in Canada on Aug. 16, the 4-year-old filly rallied from last in the lane with her devastating kick to fall a stride short at the wire. But there was no shame in defeat under regular jockey William Buick as she finished a head behind She Feels Pretty, who won her fifth Grade 1 race and earned her starting gate spot in the Maker's Mark Filly & Mare Turf (G1) through the Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" Challenge Series.

To the delight of trainer Charlie Appleby, Dancing Rain has totally rebounded from her dreadful performance in the 2024 Ribblesdale (G2) at 1 ½ miles at Royal Ascot.

Following impressive wins in her first two starts as a 3-year-old, her connections jumped her up in class and distance but just 2 furlongs into the fray Buick said she simply stopped. She wound up last of the 12 in the field, soundly beaten by 25 lengths that day. She didn't race again until Nov. 9 at Doncaster, finishing fourth at 1 1/4miles.

This year has been a different story for the daughter of Shamardal out of 2011 Epsom Oaks (G1) winner Dancing Rain [IRE]. In Diamond Rain's two races prior to the E.P. Taylor, she triumphed in both by 1 ¾ lengths, first in the Hedge of Oaks at Haydock on May 24 going 1 5/16 miles and next in the Hoppings Fillies (G3) at Newcastle on June 27 going 1 1/4 miles.

Village Voice (GB)

The British-bred Village Voice made front page news when she captured the Waya (G3) at Belmont at the Big A on Oct. 5 while making her first start in North America, her first start for her current connections, and her first start in nearly a year.

Named for the famed American news and culture weekly paper based in Greenwich Village in New York City, the 5-year-old Village Voice rewarded the confidence of owner John Stewart of Resolute Racing when he spent $1,727,463 to acquire her at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale and sent her across the pond to five-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown.

Previously conditioned by the Ireland based and multiple Group 1-winning Jessica Harrington, Village Voice made a dozen starts in Europe in 2022 to 2024, most notably winning two contests at St. Cloud in the 2023 Prix de Floret (G3) and the 2024 Prix des Tourelles (Listed) in September. Village Voice's final European appearance was in the Oct. 19, 2024 British Champions Filles & Mares (G1) at Ascot, where she finished a respectable fourth of 14.

Despite the long layoff, during which time Brown was dealing with what he termed as her minor issues, Village Voice demonstrated that she has acclimated to American racing. The daughter of Zarak (FR) and the Street Sense mare Sensible Way displayed her devastating turn of foot in the 1 3/8-mile Waya as she rallied from far back under Dylan Davis and closed willingly through the lane to just get up before the wire and win by a neck.

Stellify

The aptly named Stellify is stellar. Though unraced until a 4-year-old this year, the daughter of Hall of Famer and 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify established a Churchill Downs course record of 2:11.73 for 1 3/8 miles while winning in allowance company by 4 lengths on June 12. That race was just her fourth start and for an encore she won a 1 ½-mile Kentucky Downs test by 2 lengths on Aug. 28.

With only eight days rest, Stellify came back with a brilliant front-running victory in the 1 5/16-mile Ladies Marathon Invitational (G3) at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 6 under regular rider Florent Geroux. After the race trainer Brad Cox said, "I certainly think there is more left and we are excited about her future."

The partnership of Steve Smith's Elements Racing, George Messina and Lee Michael caught lightning in a bottle when they bought the Kentucky-bred filly out of the Medaglia D'Oro mare Savvy Star for $140,000 as a yearling. Now a millionaire and their only graded stakes winner, she was kept under wraps until February when she took third in a Fair Grounds maiden race going a mile and then was the runner-up at the same level and on the same track in March going a mile and a sixteenth. She graduated in a 1 1/8- mile maiden race at Churchill on May 1 and that effort kicked off a four-race win streak in which her combined margin of victory was 10 ¾ lengths.

See The Fire (GB)

Throughout her career, See The Fire (GB) has been in the mix of some of the biggest turf races in Europe.

Her biggest score in 2025 came in the Middleton Fillies' Stakes (G2) at York on May 15. Sent off as the betting favorite, See The Fire raced in the back of the pack before unleashing her move and pulling away to win by 12 lengths.

Off that dominating win, the 4-year-old Sea The Stars (IRE) filly headed to Royal Ascot to compete in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes (G1) on June 18. She finished third behind Ombudsman (IRE) and Anmaat (IRE).

She then went to Glorious Goodwood for the Nassau Stakes (G1) on July 31. See The Fire finished third once again, this time behind Whirl (IRE) and Cercene (IRE).

See The Fire faced Ombudsman again on Aug. 20 in the Juddmonte International Stakes (G1). He won, while she finished fourth.

In her most recent start, See The Fire traveled to France for the Prix de l'Opera (G1) on Oct. 5. She was ultra game while finishing second by a short neck to Barnavara (IRE).

Last year, See The Fire won the Strensall Stakes (G3), finished second by a neck in the Nassau, and was third in the Sun Chariot Stakes (G1). As a 2-year-old in 2023, See The Fire broke her maiden at first asking before finishing second in the May Hill Stakes (G2) and third in the Fillies' Mile (G1).

Andrew Balding trains See The Fire for Jeff Smith, who bred the filly in the name of his Littleton Stud. See The Fire's dam, the Dubawi (IRE) mare Arabian Queen (IRE), won the Juddmonte in 2015 for Smith.

Gezora (FR)

The French-bred Gezora is a femme fatale for Peter Brant's White Birch Farm and Francis-Henri Graffard, who is France's pre-eminent trainer in 2025. She completed the demanding Prix Saint Alary (G2)- Prix de Diane (G1) double in May and June, and when she captured the Prix de Diane at 1 mile 2 ½ furlongs at Chantilly she gave her American owner a long-desired win in the Classic for 3-year-old fillies.

Despite her runner-up finish next time out in the Sept. 7 Prix Vermille (G1) at Longchamps her trainer was encouraged that she had finished strongly to miss by 1 ½ lengths under Mickael Barzalona when taking on older fillies and mares for the first time in eight career starts and on ground firmer than she prefers.

Gezora caught very soft turf at Longchamp on Oct. 5 in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) going a mile and a half. She ran never threatened in finishing 13th of 17 and winding up 10 3/4 lengths behind the victorious Daryz (FR).

Gezora ran four times in 2024 as a juvenile in the silks of breeder Haras d'Etreham, winning twice and becoming a graded stakes winner in the Oct. 21 Prix des Reservoirs (G3) at Deauville on heavy ground to complete her year. She was sold privately and transferred to Graffard, who brought her back to the races on April 6 when she ran third in the Prix Vanteaux (G3) at Longchamps at 9 furlongs for her new connections. The filly made a bold statement on May 11 in her initial try at 1 ¼ miles when taking the Saint-Alary on the soft turf that she relishes.

She is a daughter of European champion and multiple G1 winner Almanzor (FR) and the Silver Hawk mare Germance.

Cinderella's Dream (GB)

Cinderella's Dream (GB) was a fairy tale come true for owner/breeder Godolphin, trainer Charlie Appleby, and jockey William Buick last year, and the multiple Grade 1-winning filly is making more magic as a 4-year-old in 2025.

After rallying in the field of 12 and flying through the lane to just miss by a half-length as the favorite in the 2024 Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1), she was given a well-deserved rest following a sophomore season in which she won three stakes, including the Belmont Invitational Oaks (G1) and the Saratoga Invitational Oaks (G2), in six starts. She returned at Meydan on Feb. 21 in the 1 1/8-mile Balanchine (G2) and was only a head short of future Grade 1 winner Choisya (GB).

Her connections sent her next to Newmarket in England for the 1 1/8-mile Dahlia (G2) on May 4 and she rewarded them with a 4 ½-length triumph. Then came Royal Ascot for the Duke of Cambridge (G2) on June 18 and though she put up a good fight, she was the runner-up by 1 ¾ lengths at 1 mile.

Disappointed but not daunted, Appleby and Buick drew a line through that effort, and Cinderella's Dream returned to Newmarket for the July 11 Falmouth (G1) at 1 mile. Even though she was giving 9 pounds to January (IRE), she prevailed in a battle with that rival in the lane to win by a half-length. The victory was her first Group 1 in the U.K. "What a game filly she is. She's all class," Buick said. "I'm so pleased for the filly and the whole team. She's been unlucky a couple of times, but she's put it all together."

Cinderella's Dream ventured to Deauville for her next start that came in the 1 1/4-mile Prix Jean Romanet (G1) on Aug. 24. She raced toward the rear of the eight-horse early, swung to the outside in the home straight but was unable to gain ground late and settled for fourth, 2 1/4 lengths behind the victorious Quisisana (FR).

Cinderella's Dream made her next start at Newmarket on Oct. 4 in the 1-mile Sun Chariot Stakes (G1) contested over good ground. she finished a non-threatening third in the field of nine 6 3/4 lengths behind Fallen Angel (GB).

Cinderella's Dream, who was undefeated in two outings in Britain as a juvenile in 2023, is by European champion Shamardal and she is out of the Dubawi (IRE) mare Espadrille (GB). Shamardal sired Tarnawa, who beat the boys in the 2020 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) when she was a 4-year-old. Appleby won the 2017 Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) with Godolphin homebred Wuheida (GB), who was ridden by Buick.

Minnie Hauk (IRE)

Like her namesake, Minnie Hauk (IRE) is a commanding presence whenever she steps into the spotlight. "She beautiful, she does everything right, she cruises, is a lovely mover," trainer Aidan O'Brien said after her victory in the Aug. 21 Yorkshire Oaks (G1) that is part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series for the Maker's Mark Filly and Mare Turf (G1)

The win was the fifth straight for the daughter of Frankel (GB), who previously added the Irish Oaks (G1) at the Curragh on July 19 and the Epsom Oaks (G1) in England on June 6, both at 1 ½ miles.

Purchased for $1,955,860 as a yearling by the Coolmore partners of Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier and Michael Tabor and named for the American operatic first dramatic soprano who starred on stages across Europe in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the 3-year-old filly lived up to lofty expectations from the start. Just 18 days after finishing second in her first outing last October Minnie Hauk took a maiden affair at Leopardstown to conclude her juvenile season on Oct. 19.

O'Brien brough her back to the races May 7 to kick off her sophomore campaign and she and new rider Ryan Moore posed for winner's circle photos after the 1 7/16-mile Cheshire Oaks (Listed). From there they were flawless while getting the Oaks hat trick at Epsom, the Curragh and York over the summer as Minnie Hauk progressively got even better and stronger. Her win in the Yorkshire Oaks was particularly impressive as she was facing an older rival for the first time and her 3 ½-length margin of victory was her largest to date. But going forward the filly will need a new partner since O'Brien announced on Aug. 30 that Moore has a fractured right femur and may be sidelined for the remainder of the 2025 European flat season. "We don't know exactly how long it will take - maybe a month, two, three, or more," O'Brien said.

Christophe Soumillon took over for Moore in the Oct. 5 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) at Longchamp going a mile and a half on very soft ground. Minnie Hauk tracked the leaders before hitting the front a quarter-mile out only to be caught 50 yards from the finish by Daryz (FR) who prevailed by a head.

Bedtime Story (IRE)

** coming soon **

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ALSO ELIGIBLES

Atsila (IRE)

Donnacha O'Brien wasn't impressed with Atsila (IRE) before she began her career, but after her surprising second outing the trainer admitted that he had vastly underrated the 3-year-old filly. Unraced until April 5 this year, Atsila finished first under Gavin Ryan in a maiden race at the modest Irish track Bellewstown and then O'Brien boldly threw her into the deep end of the pool one month later at the Curragh.

Atsila belied her inexperience as Ryan threaded her between rivals to win the 1-mile Athasi Stakes (G3). She took a big step forward that day while also earning the respect of owner Barry Fowler, who was game to next supplement her to the Irish Guineas (G1) three weeks later at the Curragh.

She finished seventh behind 2024 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Lake Victoria (IRE) in the Guineas on May 25 and subsequently competed against Europe's top-class females in three consecutive Group 1 affairs. After a sixth-place run behind Maker's Mark Filly & Mare Turf (G1) contender Cinderella's Dream (GB) in the Falmouth at Newmarket on July 11 and then an eighth-place finish behind Fallen Angel (GB) in the Prix Rothschild at Deauville on Aug. 3, she showed spark in the Matron at Leopardstown on Sept. 13. In a rematch with Fallen Angel with a "Win and You're In" for the Filly & Mare Turf at stake, she took third, beaten only 1 ¼ lengths by that rival.

Atsila faced Fallen Angel again on Oct. 4 at Newmarket in the Sun Chariot Stakes (G1) on good ground. She dwelt at the start and then weakened in the final furlong to finish sixth of nine and 9 3/4 lengths behind Fallen Angel.

All seven of her starts have been contested at the distance of 1 mile and Ryan has been in the irons each time. The daughter of the Group 1-winning Phoenix of Spain (IRE) and the Holy Roman Emperor (IRE) mare Scala Romana (IRE) was purchased by Fowler as a yearling for $52,965 by Fowler, who later brought in partners Medallion Racing 2020 and Steven Weston.

Way to Be Marie

The Kentucky-bred Way to Be Marie returned from a two-month break on Sept. 6 at Kentucky Downs ready to fire her best shot and she nearly hit the bullseye in the Ladies Marathon Invitational (G3) when seeking her first graded stakes score. Under jockey Manny Franco the 4-year-old filly rallied from far back to close with a rush from the eighth pole to the wire in the 1 5/16-mile test and finish second to Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) hopeful Stellify.

That performance by the Rob Atras-trainee showed marked improvement from her two previous outings when she ran fifth in both the De La Rose (Listed) at Saratoga on July 10 and the Gallorette (G3) at Pimlico on May 17. Her previous best career effort was when she won the Tom Benson Memorial (Listed) at the Fair Grounds on the March 22 Louisiana Derby Day card after running third on the same track in the Albert M. Stall Memorial (G3) to begin her 2025 campaign.

In 2024 she knocked on the door in six starts, finishing in the money is three stakes races, including a solid second in the Edgewood (G2) at Churchill Downs on May 3. Her lone win that year was in an allowance race at the Fair Grounds on March 21.

The daughter of Not This Time out of Woman of the World by Henrythenavigator made her first start as a 2-year-old in September 2023 during the Belmont at the Big A meet. She graduated from the maiden special weight ranks in her third outing to end her juvenile campaign in New Orleans in December. She is owned by the partnership of Robert LaPenta and Madaket Stables, which purchased her for $95,000 at 2023 OBS April sale of 2-year-olds in training.

Alice Verite (JPN)

Alice Verite (JPN) faced a number of challenges when she competed in the 2024 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) at Del Mar. She was shipping from Japan and would have to contend with not only the new American racing style, but was making her first start on dirt that day. She was away from the gate belatedly, but made up ground late to finish fourth, behind Thorpedo Anna, subsequently voted Horse of the Year, and two other American Grade 1 winners in Raging Sea and Candied.

With that experience under her belt, Alice Verite will eye a return trip to Del Mar - site of Japan's breakthrough with its first two Breeders' Cup victories on the 2021 program. Those included Marche Lorraine (JPN) who sprung a $101.80 upset in the Distaff.

Alice Verite also is likely to be a longshot in this year's Distaff. The 5-year-old daughter of Kizuna (JPN) who races as a homebred for Makoto Kato and is trained by Kazuya Nakatake, is winless in four starts this year, all on turf. Her career record stands at 25-4-7-4, and she has pushed her earnings to $1,020,668 in U.S. funds.

Alice Verite's major win came in the Mermaid Stakes (G3) in June 2024, on the turf at Kyoto Racecourse. She led throughout for a 2-length victory. In other notable stakes efforts, Alice Verite was third in the Artemis Stakes (G3) in 2022 at Tokyo Racehorse, beaten just a half-length total by two solid competitors in Ravel (JPN) and Liberty Island (JPN). She was also second in the Sweetpea Stakes in 2023 at Tokyo.

Sire Kizuna (JPN), a champion who won the Japanese Derby, is a leading sire in Japan, with runners including champion Songline (JPN). Kizuna is a son of Japanese Triple Crown winner and leading sire Deep Impact - in turn a son of the legendary Sunday Silence, the 1989 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner who went on to become a breed-shaping sire in Japan. Alice Verite is out of Lumiere Verite, a daughter of 1985 Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) winner Cozzene.

Cathedral (GB)

** coming soon **

2025 BREEDERS' CUP RACE SCHEDULE

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What is the Breeders Cup' Filly & Mare Turf?

The Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (Grade 1) is a relative newcomer as it is the only existing series in the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships races that was not a part of the original seven Breeders' Cup races group begun in 1984.

In July 1998, the Breeders' Cup board of directors voted on the decision to fill an obvious gap in the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships lineup by creating this $1 million series for fillies and mares. The first Filly & Mare Turf was held in 1999 at Gulfstream Park.

Until that time, the female turf division had no definitive championship race, and distaffers were forced to race in open company. The audacious misses had to settle for competing against their male counterparts in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) and the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1). Back then, the ladies already more than held their own at the Breeders' Cup races, beginning with Royal Heroine (Ireland). She was the only filly in the field when she triumphed in the very first running of the Mile in 1984, and in the process, set a new course record at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, California.

Following Royal Heroine's footsteps, Miesque snagged back-to-back wins at the Mile in 1987 and 1988, while Ridgewood Pearl (Great Britain) captured the 1995 running, moving the Mile championship for the misses up to four of the first 12 runnings. The females performed just as well in the Breeders' Cup Turf, notably, with Pebbles (Great Britain) who took the 1985 running and Miss Alleged who triumphed in 1991.

The Filly & Mare Turf was first run in 1999 at 1 3/8 miles, owing mainly to Gulfstream Park's grass course configuration, and was again contested like so in the following year. Come 2001, the distance was then shifted to 10 furlongs.

Ever since the initial running in 1999, the newer series has fulfilled its intended purpose. Phillips Racing Partnership's Soaring Softly snagged an Eclipse Award as champion turf female with a three-quarter-length victory on that first year.

In 2000 at Churchill Downs, Stronach Stable's Perfect Sting won by the same margin, 3/4 length, over Tout Charmant. Perfect Sting was subsequently voted champion turf female.

The Filly & Mare Turf (Grade 1) was first run in 1999 at 1 3/8 miles, but the distance was then shifted to 10 furlongs.

European interests in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf eventually broke through in 2001 at Belmont Park, when Juddmonte Farms' French-based Banks Hill (Great Britain) won by 5 1/2 lengths. That year, the Filly & Mare Turf was run at 1 1/4 miles for the first time, which is its prescribed distance when course configurations permit.

In 2003, the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf may have finally put the overseas runners at the fore of the Breeders' Cup map as European-trained horses swept the first three positions and European-bred horses bagged the top five. 3-1 favorite Islington stalked the pace in sixth early under Kieren Fallon, then at the top of the stretch came on strong and duelled with 47-1 shot L'Ancresse down the stretch to win by a neck in a time of 1:59. It was 2 ½ lengths back to 14-1 shot Yesterday while England-bred Heat Haze finished fourth.

2004 continued the European streak when race favorite Ouija Board of Great Britain won the championship at 0.90 odds with jockey Kieren Fallon. The runnerup was Film Maker at 16.50 odds with jockey John Velasquez while third place went to Wonder Again at 10.70 odds with jockey Edgar Prado.